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Ruakuba State Farm and Farm Training College. The returns from the Ruakura Farm have reflected the price depression in common with primary industries generally, although production has been well maintained. The time has now arrived when consideration could well be given to the future of this undertaking. The property is a large one, and the requirements of the Department, including the training school established on the farm, could be adequately met by a smaller area, leaving the balance available for close settlement. The activities of the school itself are well maintained, and the facilities given for practical instruction in farming methods and management continue to serve a useful purpose. Te Katjwhata Horticultural Station. The greater portion of the land at Te Kauwhata Horticultural Station has gradually been converted into dairy farms and settled, leaving only the vineyard, wine-manufacturing plant, and buildings, together with a small area of land. It has now been decided to dispose of this remaining portion of the property, and it will accordingly be offered for sale at an early date. The Plant Research Station and Related Experimental Areas. The Plant Research Station, at Palmerston North, continues to be operated in co-operation with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Restricted finance has necessitated an adjustment of the wide activities of the Station, but has resulted in a greater concentration of detailed research connected with crops and pastures, such work being possible on the areas adjacent to Palmerston North, or in the laboratories themselves. In this connection special commendation must be given to the selection work in connection with pasture plants, and also the study of plant diseases, on the Station area. The experimental area at Marton continues to be used for the study of pasture response under varying conditions of manuring and stocking, and particularly allows of research work in experimental technique. During the year the recently leased experimental area on the Canterbury Agricultural College farm at Lincoln has been developed under the name of the Government Pure Seed Station, and fills the long-felt need of a suitable area for detailed experiments, particularly on cereals and potatoes. The association with Lincoln College is most advantageous, and is fully appreciated by the staff of the Plant Research Station. Wallaceville Veterinary Laboratory. This institution has continued its far-reaching activities on sound and progressive lines. It forms a valuable and essential adjunct to the work of the field officers of the Live-stock Division in not only controlling disease but also in advising stock-owners as to preventive and curative treatment and animal management generally. The extent of its activities can he gathered from the report of the Officer in Charge which is appended. The staff has been strengthened by Dr. I. J. Cunningham, of the Chemical Laboratory, carrying out his work at Wallaceville, where he specializes in animal nutrition matters. He had previously spent a period of study at the Rowett Institute, Aberdeen. Dr. Moir, of the Dairy Division, is also at Wallaceville, thus enabling the immediate advisory and consulting scientific services to the field officers of the two Divisions dealing with live-stock and live-stock products to be concentrated in the one establishment. The Chemical Laboratory. A large volume of good work has been carried out at this Laboratory by Mr. Aston, Chief Chemist, and his staff, much of which was in connection with soil deficiency, the troubles arising therefrom, and the measures necessary in order to rectify it. Soil analyses have also been carried out extensively in connection wit h 1 he areas raised in elevation by the Hawke's Bay earthquake, soil reclamations by the Public Works Department, and soil surveys by the Scientific and Industrial Research Department, together with fertilizers, stock licks, and stock remedies. Full details of what has been done will be found in the appended report by Mr. Aston. The work has been of very material assistance to field officers of the Department. In addition, the administration of the Fertilizers Act has been satisfactorily carried out. Recently steps were taken to institute a system of charging fees for fertilizer registrations.

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